Tars Set to Face Army West Point

SET-UP:Coming off a dominant season opening performance, Rollins now turns their attention to a visit from Division I Army West Point. The Tars shutout Arkansas-Fort Smith to open 2019, not losing a single set to the Lions. Army began the season with a win over Michigan State, but has since lost five matches in a row. The cadets will face another service academy, Air Force on Saturday, February 16, at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, before heading to Winter Park to finish their Florida trip. Rollins will look for another early season win, as the Tars prepare for a busy end of February, and the meat of their schedule in March.

WHO TO WATCH:Rollins:The Tars cruised against UAFS in their opener. Nicolo De Fraia saw the top court play, controlling the action, on his way to a 6-1, 6-0 win. The senior remains the No. 20 ranked player in the South Region. Guillermo De Nicolas-Ruiz was equally dominant in the second position. Ziad Melhaoui, who ranks No. 21 in the nation in singles play, sailed home in the third spot during the opener. Gai Feigin and Andrea Brignacca each picked up their first wins in Blue and Gold. The Tars doubles teams of Melhaoui and Feigin, De Fraia and Frederick Danielson, and Nicolas-Ruiz and Atakan Gezer made easy work of the Lions, all capturing 6-1 wins.

Army West Point:The Black Knights are looking to turn around a five match losing streak in Florida. Myles Conlin leads Army, playing out of the top position. The junior has earned a 2-3 record so far in 2019, including one loss against a nationally ranked opponent. David Gorshein has also tallied a 2-3 mark this year, going 2-2 in the sixth spot, while falling in his one appearance in the fifth. Conlin and Nikita Larichev have seen all of the first court doubles action. David Gorshein and David Mitchell have combined to go 3-2 in doubles play, seeing time in both the second and third spots.

UP NEXT:The Tars will finish their season opening home stand by hosting the Bates Bobcats on Thursday, February 21. First serve is set for 3 p.m.